Candle extinguishing device

ABSTRACT

A candle extinguishing device comprising: a barrel; a handle in communication with the barrel; an opening located proximate to an extinguishing end of the barrel; a passage located in the barrel and the handle, and in fluid communication with the opening; a filter located in the handle and in fluid communication with the passage; a fan located in the handle and in fluid communication with the filter; a vent located in the handle and in fluid communication with the fan; a power supply located in the handle and in electrical communication with the fan; and where the candle extinguishing device is configured to provide suction at the opening to draw air, smoke, and odors into the passage where the air, smoke and odors are filtered in the filter, and the filtered air exits the candle extinguishing device through the vent. A candle extinguishing device comprising: a barrel; a handle in communication with the barrel; an opening located proximate to an extinguishing end of the barrel; a passage located in the barrel and the handle, and in fluid communication with the opening; a filter located in the barrel and in fluid communication with the passage; a fan located in the handle and in fluid communication with the filter; a vent located in the handle and in fluid communication with the fan; a power supply located in the handle and in electrical communication with the fan; a barrel opening located in the barrel between the filter and the fan; and where the candle extinguishing device is configured to provide suction at the barrel opening to draw air, smoke, and odors into the passage where the air, smoke and odors are filtered in the filter, and the filtered air exits the candle extinguishing device through an exit opening proximate the filter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of invention relates to candle extinguishing devices, and moreparticularly to candle extinguishing devices that reduce or eliminatethe smell, smoke, and soot that emanate from an extinguished candle.

BACKGROUND

Many homes and businesses use candles in order to provide a pleasantatmosphere, fragrance, and/or lighting. Unfortunately, when oneextinguishes a candle flame, there is often smoke, and soot thatemanates from the extinguished flame. Additionally, there is often anunpleasant odor from the extinguished flame. When more than one candleis extinguished, these unpleasant effects can by multiplied. Thus, thereis a need for a device that can extinguish a candle flame that minimizesor eliminates the discharge of smoke, soot and odor into a room.

SUMMARY

The disclosed invention relates to a candle extinguishing devicecomprising: a barrel; a handle in communication with the barrel; anopening located proximate to an extinguishing end of the barrel; apassage located in the barrel and the handle, and in fluid communicationwith the opening; a filter located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the passage; a fan located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the filter; a vent located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the fan; a power supply located in the handle and inelectrical communication with the fan; and where the candleextinguishing device is configured to provide suction at the opening todraw air, smoke, and odors into the passage where the air, smoke andodors are filtered in the filter, and the filtered air exits the candleextinguishing device through the vent.

The disclosed invention also relates to a candle extinguishing devicecomprising: a barrel; a handle in communication with the barrel; anopening located proximate to an extinguishing end of the barrel; apassage located in the barrel and the handle, and in fluid communicationwith the opening; a filter located in the barrel and in fluidcommunication with the passage; a fan located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the filter; a vent located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the fan; a power supply located in the handle and inelectrical communication with the fan; a barrel opening located in thebarrel between the filter and the fan; and where the candleextinguishing device is configured to provide suction at the barrelopening to draw air, smoke, and odors into the passage where the air,smoke and odors are filtered in the filter, and the filtered air exitsthe candle extinguishing device through an exit opening proximate thefilter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in thepertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where likeelements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic of one embodiment of the disclosedcandle extinguishing device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic of another embodiment of thedisclosed candle extinguishing device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic of still another embodiment of thedisclosed candle extinguishing device;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic of venturi embodiment of thedisclosed candle extinguishing device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic of another venturi embodiment ofthe disclosed candle extinguishing device; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic of a compound fan embodiment ofthe disclosed candle extinguishing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one embodiment of thedisclosed candle extinguishing device 10. The candle extinguishingdevice 10 comprises a barrel 14 in communication with a handle 18. Thebarrel 14 has an extinguishing end 22, near to which there is an opening26. The opening is in fluid communication with a passage 30 that travelsfrom the barrel 14 into the handle until it reaches a partition 34,located in the handle 18. The partition may be a screen mesh configuredto keep solid material from passing through. In fluid communication withthe partition 34 is a filter 38. The filter 38 may be any suitablefiltering material such as, but not limited to charcoal microcarbonfilters, HEPA filters, electrostatically charged filters, activatedcarbon/charcoal filters, and zeolite filters. In fluid communicationwith the filter 38 is a fan 42. The fan 42 is in fluid communicationwith vents 46 located in the handle 18. The fan 42 is configured to drawair and other matter through the opening 26, through the passage 30, andinto the filter 38, whereupon the air and matter is filtered, and thefiltered air is discharged out vents 46. The vents 46 are shown locatedon an underside 47 of the handle, however one of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the vents 46 may be located else where on thehandle, and such alternatives are within the scope of this patentapplication. The fan is in operable communication with a motor 50, whichis in electrical communication with a power supply 54. There may also belocated on the handle 18 an entranceway with a filter door or panel 58to allow a user to change and/or replace the filter 38. There may alsobe located on the handle 18 an entranceway with a power supply door orpanel 62 to allow a user to change and/or replace the power supply 54.An activating means 66, such as a button, switch, or control knob, islocated on the handle 18 and is in electrical communication with themotor 50 and is configured to turn on or off the fan, and may be furtherconfigured to adjust the fan speed. The candle extinguishing device 10may be used as follows: the opening 26 is moved near a flame; theactivating means 66 is activated thus turning on the fan and drawingair, soot, smoke, and odor from the flame into the passage 30 and intothe partition 34 where any solid material is stopped from going further.The drawing air, soot, smoke, and odor continues into the filter 38where the particulates and odor are removed, and the now cleaned airtravels through the fan 42 and out the vents 46. Once the flame isextinguished, the user may deactivate the activating means 66 wherebythe fan is stopped. In another configuration, there may be a delay meansassociated with the activating means 66 and/or motor 50, which allowsfor the fan 42 to keep running for a set time period, allowing the air,soot, smoke, and odor that has been drawn into the passage 30 to befiltered by the filter 42. Such a time period may be about 2 second toabout 10 seconds. The arrows show the travel of the air, soot, smoke,and odor into the candle extinguishing device 10 until it is cleaned inthe filter, and then arrows show the path the cleaned air takes as ittravels out the vents 46. The candle extinguishing device 10 may also beoperated as follows: use the device 10 to extinguish the flame, thendraws soot, smoke etc. from a smoldering wick into the barrel 14 to thefilter 38, also cooling the wick. The device 10 can perform twofunctions (1) extinguishing the flame and (2) removing most of the sootand smoke. In another embodiment of the device 10, a scented pad may beadded such that the scented pad is adjacent to the filter 38.Additionally, the filter 38 may be located before the fan 42 as shown inFIG. 1, or after the fan (i.e. between the fan 42 and the motor 50).

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the candle extinguishing device 70.In this embodiment, the passage 30 is in fluid communication with achamber 74 located in the handle 18. A partition 78 is in rotatablecommunication with the passage 30 near the entrance 82 to the chamber74. The partition is spring loaded to keep the partition shut until thefan 42 is turned on. Once the fan 42 is turned on, the partition opens(rotates to the left in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2). The chamber 74is configured to hold and/or store any solid materials that may be drawninto the passage 30 when extinguishing a flame. The chamber isconfigured so that the solid materials may fall to the bottom 86 of thechamber 74 and not be drawn into the filter 38. However, if solidmaterial does move toward the filter 38, it will be kept out of thefilter 38 by the partition 34. In other embodiments the partition 78 maybe located near the extinguishing end 22 of the passage. There may alsobe located on the handle 18 an entranceway with a chamber door or panel88 to allow a user to remove any materials that may be located in thechamber 74.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the candle extinguishing device 90.In this embodiment, the candle extinguishing device 90 not onlyextinguishes flames, but is configured to also to light flames. Thedisclosed candle extinguishing device 90 has a second passage 94 locatedin the barrel 14. The second passage 94 is in fluid communication with aflame opening 98 located at or near the extinguishing end 22. Anignition tip 102 is located near the flame opening 98. The ignition tip102 is in fluid communication with a fuel tube 106. The fuel tube 106 isin fluid communication with a fuel tank 110 which may be located in thehandle 18. The fuel tank 110 is configured to hold an amount of lighterfluid such as a butane mixture. Located near the ignition tip 102 in thesecond passage 94 is a spark generating tip 114. The spark generatingtip 114 is in electrical communication with a piezo electric unit 118located in the handle 18. The piezo electric 118 unit is incommunication with a lighter activating means 122, such as a button,knob or switch. Thus when the activating means 122 is activated by auser, the piezo electric unit creates a spark at the spark generatingtip 114. Lighter fluid from the tank 110 is ignited at the ignition tip102, thereby providing a flame to light candles and other items. Theremay be an activating means 126, such as a button, switch, or controlknob, in communication with the fuel tank 110 that when activated allowslighter fluid to travel up the fuel tube 106 to the ignition tip 102.The activating means 126 may be a child proof device. The fuel tank maybe refillable.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the disclosed candle extinguishingdevice 130. In this embodiment, air enters the handle 18 through thevents 46 because the fan 42 is drawing air in. The air is blown up thepassage 30 towards the filter 38, now located at a filter end 134 of thedevice 130. The barrel 14 and passage 30 has barrel opening 138. Flame,soot, odor and smoke are drawn into the barrel opening 138 via a venturieffect due to the air traveling in the passage 30 towards the filter 38.The air, soot, smoke, and odor is pushed into the filter 38 via the airstream. Clean air exits the filter 38 and the device 130 at an exitopening 132. The arrow 142 shows generally the path the air takes as itleaves the filter 38.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the disclosed candle extinguishingdevice 146. In this embodiment, the filter end 134 of the barrel 30 andfilter 38 is generally positioned at an angle {acute over (α)} to themain portion of the barrel 30. This embodiment of the candleextinguishing device 146 works in generally the same way as the device130.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the disclosed candle extinguishingdevice 150. In this embodiment, air enters the handle 18 through thevents 46 because, again, the fan 42 is drawing air in. The air is blownup the passage 30 towards an upper fan 154. The air flow drives theupper fan 154, which is in operable communication with a lower fan 158.The upper fan 154 drives the lower fan 158. The barrel 14 has an opening162, which allows the flame, soot, odor and smoke air to be drawn in bythe lower fan 158. The lower fan 158 is configured to direct air, soot,smoke and odor into the filter 38 via the second passage 166. Air exitsthe filter and the barrel 14 and travels generally in the direction ofthe arrow 142. The passage 30 and second passage 166 may or may not bein fluid communication with each other.

The disclosed candle extinguishing device has many advantages. Flames oncandles, and other lit items such as, but not limited to: lamps, may beextinguished without the odor and smoke that accompanies flames that arebe blown out or otherwise extinguished. In one embodiment, the candleextinguishing device may also include a lighter, all located in oneunit. The candle extinguishing device provides for a compact unit thatwill extinguish flames and clean the air of the odors and smokeassociated with the extinguished flame. The disclosed device is anindoor environment and air quality devise. It is recommended that candleflames not be blown out for safety reasons. Blowing out flames riskssmall pieces of hot wick or hot wax landing on flammable materials,causing a fire hazard, and allowing acrid smoke to fill room. Thedisclosed device eliminates these hazards.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, andthe like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/oranalogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential,or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specificallystated.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to severalembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing fromthe essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that thedisclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as thebest mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that thedisclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A candle extinguishing device comprising: a barrel; a handle incommunication with the barrel; an opening located proximate to anextinguishing end of the barrel; a passage located in the barrel and thehandle, and in fluid communication with the opening; a filter located inthe handle and in fluid communication with the passage; a fan located inthe handle and in fluid communication with the filter; a vent located inthe handle and in fluid communication with the fan; a power supplylocated in the handle and in electrical communication with the fan; andwherein the candle extinguishing device is configured to provide suctionat the opening to draw air, smoke, and odors into the passage where theair, smoke and odors are filtered in the filter, and the filtered airexits the candle extinguishing device through the vent.
 2. The candleextinguishing device of claim 1 further comprising: a partition in fluidcommunication with the passage and in fluid communication with thefilter.
 3. The candle extinguishing device of claim 1 furthercomprising: a filter door located in the handle and configured toprovide access to the filter.
 4. The candle extinguishing device ofclaim 1 further comprising: a power supply door located in the handleand configured to provide access to the power supply.
 5. The candleextinguishing device of claim 1 further comprising: a chamber located inthe handle and in fluid communication with the passage, and in fluidcommunication with the filter; a spring loaded partition in rotatablecommunication with the passage; and wherein the spring loaded partitionis configured to close off the passage when the fan is not running andto open the passage when the fan is running.
 6. The candle extinguishingdevice of claim 5 further comprising: a chamber door located in thehandle and configured to provide access to the chamber.
 7. The candleextinguishing device of claim 1, further comprising: a flame openinglocated proximate to the extinguishing end of the barrel; a secondpassage located in the barrel, and in fluid communication with the flameopening; a fuel tank located in the handle; an ignition tip locatedproximate to the flame opening and in the second passage; a fuel tanklocated in the handle; a fuel tube in fluid communication with the fueltank and the ignition tip; a piezo electric unit located in the handle;a spark generating tip located proximate to the flame opening andproximate to the ignition tip and in electrical communication with thepiezo electric unit, and located in the second passage; an activatingmeans located on the handle and in operable communication with the piezoelectric unit.
 8. The candle extinguishing device of claim 7, furthercomprising: an activating means located on the handle and in operablecommunication with the fuel tank.
 9. The candle extinguishing device ofclaim 7, wherein the fuel tank is refillable.
 10. A candle extinguishingdevice comprising: a barrel; a handle in communication with the barrel;an opening located proximate to an extinguishing end of the barrel; apassage located in the barrel and the handle, and in fluid communicationwith the opening; a filter located in the barrel and in fluidcommunication with the passage; a fan located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the filter; a vent located in the handle and in fluidcommunication with the fan; a power supply located in the handle and inelectrical communication with the fan; a barrel opening located in thebarrel between the filter and the fan; and wherein the candleextinguishing device is configured to provide suction at the barrelopening to draw air, smoke, and odors into the passage where the air,smoke and odors are filtered in the filter, and the filtered air exitsthe candle extinguishing device through an exit opening proximate thefilter.
 11. The candle extinguishing device of claim 10, wherein thebarrel opening creates suction at the barrel due to a venture effect.12. The candle extinguishing device of claim 10, further comprising: anupper fan in fluid communication with the fan; a lower fan in operablecommunication with the upper fan, and in fluid communication with thebarrel opening; and wherein the upper fan is configured to drive thelower fan, and the lower fan is configured to draw air, smoke, and odorinto the barrel opening and direct the air, smoke, and odor into thefilter.